Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric [4+1] and [5+1] Annulation of Arenes and 1,3‐Enynes: A Distinct Mechanism of Allyl Formation and Allyl Functionalization

Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Oxidative Cross-Coupling of N-Pyrimidylindoles with Cyclic β-Keto Esters for Accessing All-Carbon Quaternary Centers

Rh(III)-catalyzed direct oxidative C-H/C-H cross-coupling between N-pyrimidylindoles and β-ketoesters is presented. Easily available β-ketoesters are used as an alkylating agent for the facile construction of all-carbon quaternary centers under mild conditions. The ester group in the product can undergo decarboxylation or decarboxylative amination.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Enantioselective C-H Carbonylation towards Chiral Isoindolinones

Transition metal-catalyzed enantioselective C-H carbonylation with carbon monoxide, an essential and easily available C1 feedstock, remains challenging. Here, we disclosed an unprecedented enantioselective C-H carbonylation catalyzed by inexpensive and readily available cobalt(II) salt. The reactions proceed efficiently through desymmetrization, kinetic resolution, and parallel kinetic resolution, affording a broad range of chiral isoindolinones in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 92 % yield and 99 % ee). The synthetic potential of this method was demonstrated by asymmetric synthesis of biological active compounds, such as (S)-PD172938 and (S)-Pazinaclone. The resulting chiral isoindolinones also serve as chiral ligands in cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective C-H annulation with alkynes to construct phosphorus stereocenter.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Isoindolinone by Palladium-Catalyzed Aminoalkynylation of O-Phenyl Hydroxamic Ethers with Alkynes

A highly efficient palladium-catalyzed asymmetric tandem aza-Heck/Sonogashira coupling reaction of O-phenyl hydroxamic ethers with terminal alkynes is described. This protocol enables versatile access to challenging chiral isoindolinone derivatives bearing a quaternary stereogenic center. The palladium-catalyzed aminoalkynylation reaction shows broad functional group tolerance and allows the straightforward preparation of isoindolinones with high efficiency and excellent enantioselectivity under mild conditions. DFT calculations were performed to disclose the reaction mechanism and the origins of the enantioselectivity.

Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective cyclization of aromatic amides with allenes

A new Cp*Rh(III)-catalyzed regioselective cyclization reaction of aromatic amides with allenes is reported. The use of allenyl derivatives bearing a directing-group assistant as a reaction promoter was the key to the success of this protocol. In this catalytic system, N-(pivaloyloxy)benzamide substrates react with allenes via Rh-σ-alkenyl intermediates, while N-(pivaloyloxy) indol substrates react via Rh-π-allyl intermediates. These reactions were characterized by mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and high functional-group compatibility to yield several high-value isoquinolinone and pyrimido[1,6-a]indol-1(2H)-one skeleton-containing compounds. The synthetic applications and primary mechanisms were also investigated.

Asymmetric cascades of the π-allyl complex: a journey from transition-metal catalysis to metallaphotocatalysis

The enantioselective catalytic cascade involving Tsuji-Trost allylation has provided a viable strategy for the construction of multiple asymmetric C-C and C-X centres and numerous methods have been developed around it for the synthesis of various vital scaffolds. The synthetic utility of this strategy was enhanced by replacing the customary allyl acetates with ethylene diacetates/dicarbonates, vinyl epoxides, vinyl oxetanes, vinyl ethylene carbonates, vinyl cyclopropanes, enynes, and dienes using transition-metal catalysis. One more milestone was achieved when metallaphotocatalysis provided the necessary platform for these cascades by using a cheaper metal. This review will provide a summary of these enantioselective catalytic cascades from 2015.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric C-H Functionalization Reactions

This review summarizes the advancements in rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric C-H functionalization reactions during the last two decades. Parallel to the rapidly developed palladium catalysis, rhodium catalysis has attracted extensive attention because of its unique reactivity and selectivity in asymmetric C-H functionalization reactions. In recent years, Rh-catalyzed asymmetric C-H functionalization reactions have been significantly developed in many respects, including catalyst design, reaction development, mechanistic investigation, and application in the synthesis of complex functional molecules. This review presents an explicit outline of catalysts and ligands, mechanism, the scope of coupling reagents, and applications.

Three-component regioselective carboamidation of 1,3-enynes via rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation

Rhodium-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective three-component carboamidation of 1,3-enynes has been realized using indoles and dioxazolones as the functionalizing reagents. A wide range of multi-substituted skipped 1,4-dienes have been constructed in good yields and excellent stereoselectivity. The stereoselectivity is under substrate control. 1,3-Enynes bearing a relatively bulky alkyne terminus reacted with Z-selectivity. In contrast, a sterically less hindered alkyne terminus tends to predominantly give the E-configured skipped diene.

Asymmetric [5+1] Annulation via C-H Activation/1,4-Rh Migration/Double Bond Shift Using a Transformable Pyridazine Directing Group

N-Heterocycle-assisted C-H activation/annulation reactions have provided new concepts for the construction and transformation of azacycles. In this work, we disclose a [5+1] annulation reaction using a novel transformable pyridazine directing group (DG). The DG-transformable reaction mode led to the construction of a new heterocyclic ring accompanied by transformation of the original pyridazine directing group via a C-H activation/1,4-Rh migration/double bond shift pathway, affording the skeleton of pyridazino[6,1-b]quinazolines with a good substrate scope under mild conditions. Diverse fused cyclic compounds can be achieved by derivatization of the product. The asymmetric synthesis of the skeleton was also realized to afford the enantiomeric products with good stereoselectivity.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Allenyl Alcohols by Cobalt(III)-Catalyzed Sequential C-H Bond Addition to 1,3-Enynes and Aldehydes

An efficient and stereoselective CoIII -catalyzed sequential C-H bond addition to 1,3-enynes and aldehydes is disclosed. This transformation represents the first example of sequential C-H bond additions to 1,3-enynes and a second coupling partner and provides the first example of preparing allenes by C-H bond addition to 1,3-enynes. A wide range of aldehydes, C-H bond substrates and 1,3-enynes with large substituents on the alkynes are effective substrates. The allenyl alcohol products can be further converted to dihydrofurans with high stereoselectivity either in situ or under Ag-mediated cyclization conditions. The allenyl silyl group can also be transferred to the adjacent alcohol by a Brook rearrangement. Moreover, a mechanism for the transformation is proposed supported by X-ray structural characterization of a cobaltacycle intermediate.

Synthesis of spiropyrans via the Rh(III)-catalyzed annulation of 3-aryl-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazines with diazo ketoesters

Rh(III)-Catalyzed 1 : 2 coupling of 3-aryl-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazines with α-diazo-β-ketoesters has been realized for the mild synthesis of spiropyrans. The reaction proceeded via twofold C-H activation followed by unusual [3+3] and [4+2] annulation with decent functional group tolerance. Moreover, a pyranoid-skeleton intermediate was isolated as a key intermediate as a result of monoalkylation and enol oxygen annulation, which offers direct mechanistic insight.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Atroposelective Access to Axially Chiral Olefins via C-H Bond Activation and Directing Group Migration

Axially chiral open-chain olefins represent an underexplored class of chiral platform. In this report, two classes of tetrasubstituted axially chiral acyclic olefins have been accessed in excellent enantioselectivity and regioselectivity via C-H activation of (hetero)arenes assisted by a migratable directing group en route to coupling with sterically hindered alkynes. The coupling of indoles bearing an N-aminocarbonyl directing group afforded C-N axially chiral acrylamides with the assistance of a racemic zinc carboxylate additive. DFT studies suggest a β-nitrogen elimination-reinsertion pathway for the directing group migration. Meanwhile, the employment of N-phenoxycarboxamide delivered C-C axially chiral enamides via migration of the oxidizing directing group. Experiments suggest that in both cases the (hetero)arene substrate adopts a well-defined orientation during the C-H activation, which in turn determines the disposition of the alkyne in migratory insertion. Synthetic applications of representative chiral olefins are demonstrated.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed asymmetric [4+1] spiroannulations of O-pivaloyl oximes with α-diazo compounds

Chiral Rh^III catalysts can catalyze the asymmetric [4+1] spiroannulation of O-pivaloyl oximes with α-diazo homophthalimides under redox-neutral and acid/base-neutral conditions, leading to formation of chiral spirocyclic imines as a result of C-H activation and N-O cleavage. The reaction proceeded with high efficiency and features broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and high to excellent enantioselectivities.

Access to Branched Allylarenes via Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed C-H Allylation of (Hetero)arenes with 2-Methylidenetrimethylene Carbonate

A rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H allylation of (hetero)arenes by using 2-methylidenetrimethylene carbonate as an efficient allylic source has been developed for the first time. Five different directing groups including oxime, N-nitroso, purine, pyridine, and pyrimidine were compatible, delivering various branched allylarenes bearing an allylic hydroxyl group in moderate to excellent yields.

Diastereoselective synthesis of chiral 3-substituted isoindolinones via rhodium(III)-catalyzed oxidative C-H olefination/annulation

A new method for the direct and stereoselective synthesis of 3-substituted isoindolinones via Rh(iii)-catalyzed chiral N-sulfinyl amide directed asymmetric [4 + 1] annulation of benzamides with acrylic esters has been developed. The reaction proceeded through an oxidative C-H olefination and a subsequent cyclization by intramolecular aza-Michael addition, producing a series of diastereoisomeric chiral isoindolinones (20 examples) in generally good yields with a dr value up to 5.5 : 1. The absolute configurations of the newly formed C-stereocenters in the major and minor diastereomers of the catalysis product have been determined by X-ray crystal diffraction analysis to be S and R, respectively. The separation of the major diastereoisomers from the catalysis products and subsequent removal of the N-sulfinyl chiral auxiliary afforded enantiomerically pure (S)-isoindolinones. The application of the obtained (S)-isoindolinones in the synthesis of several biologically active isoindolinones such as (S)-PD172938, (S)-pazinaclone and (S)-pagoclone is presented.

Oxygen-Linked Cyclopentadienyl Rhodium(III) Complexes-Catalyzed Asymmetric C-H Arylation of Benzo[h]quinolines with 1-Diazonaphthoquinones

Chiral cyclopentadienyl rhodium (CpRh) complex-catalyzed asymmetric C-H functionalization reactions have witnessed a significant progress in organic synthesis. In sharp contrast, the reported chiral Cp ligands are limited to C-linked Cp and are often synthetically challenging. To address these issues, we have developed a novel class of tunable chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands bearing oxygen linkers, which were efficient catalysts for C-H arylation of benzo[h]quinolines with 1-diazonaphthoquinones, affording axially chiral heterobiaryls in excellent yields and enantioselectivity (up to 99 % yield, 98.5:1.5 er). Mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction is likely to proceed by electrophilic C-H activation, and followed by coupling of the cyclometalated rhodium(III) complex with 1-diazonaphthoquinones.

Harnessing Rhodium-Catalyzed C-H Activation: Regioselective Cascade Annulation for Fused Polyheterocycles

In the realm of transition-metal catalyzed arene functionalization, rhodium(III) catalysis is considered as exemplary due to its propensity to activate C-H bonds to obtain comprehensive molecular assembly. Herein, we demonstrate a new rhodium(III) catalyzed assembly of polyheterocyclic scaffolds via C-H activation and regioselective annulation of 4-arylbut-3-yn-1-amines with 4-hydroxy-2-alkynoates. Heterocyclization and trans-metalation prior to annulation is the key for initiation of this relay redox-neutral catalytic cascade.

Rh(III)-Catalyzed C-H Activation/[3 + 2] Annulation of N-Phenoxyacetamides via Carbooxygenation of 1,3-Dienes

A unique Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H activation/[3 + 2] annulation of N-phenoxyacetamides has been developed for the construction of dihydrobenzofurans via carbooxygenation of 1,3-dienes. This transformation features a redox-neutral process with specific chemoselectivity, good substrate/functional group compatibility, and profound synthetic potentials. A preliminary exploration to realize their asymmetric synthesis have been also successfully demonstrated, which further strengthens the practicality of this approach.

Recent advances in the Rh-catalyzed cascade arene C-H bond activation/annulation toward diverse heterocyclic compounds

The Rh-catalyzed C-H bond activation/annulation provides a new strategy for the synthesis of new frameworks. In this review, we summarize the recent research on the Rh-catalyzed cascade arene C-H bond activation/annulation toward diverse heterocyclic compounds. The application, scope, limitations and mechanism of these transformations are also discussed.

Rh-Catalyzed oxidative homo-coupling cyclization of 2,3-allenols to conjugated furylenones

An unexpected rhodium-catalyzed highly regio- and stereo-selective bimolecular nucleophilic oxyrhodation/insertion/1,4-Rh migration/β-H elimination reaction of 2,3-allenols affording (2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)but-2(E)-en-1-one derivatives is reported.